State of Maine Archives: on Civil Rights

Eliot Cutler:
Worked to uphold a law legalizing same-sex marriage

EqualityMaine endorsed Mike Michaud, but also has strong links to independent candidate Eliot Cutler. Cutler has been a major donor to EqualityMaine and its causes in the past. In 2009, he and his wife contributed $14,600 to efforts to uphold a law
legalizing same-sex marriage, according to the Maine Ethics Commission. EqualityMaine's former longtime director gave the independent an enthusiastic endorsement just two weeks after Michaud announced in early November he is gay.

A Cutler spokeswoman issued a statement contrasting the independent's history supporting gay rights with Michaud's background on the issue:

"Eliot Cutler and his family have stood side by side with the LGBT community for decades as outspoken advocates
and supporters. Mike Michaud's voting record in the Maine Legislature--19 consecutive votes against equal rights for the LGBT community--speaks for itself."

Michaud's campaign says Michaud, like many politicians, has evolved on the issues over time.

Mike Michaud:
Would be 1st openly gay governor; but evolved on LGBT rights

Maine's oldest and largest gay rights advocacy group has endorsed Democratic US Rep. Mike Michaud in the state's 2014 gubernatorial race, throwing its weight behind the 6-term congressman who would become the nation's first openly gay governor.
EqualityMaine's former longtime director gave the independent candidate Eliot Cutler an enthusiastic endorsement just two weeks after Michaud announced in early November he is gay.

A Cutler spokeswoman said, "Mike Michaud's voting record in the
Maine Legislature--19 consecutive votes against equal rights for the LGBT community--speaks for itself."

Michaud's campaign has downplayed the lawmaker's record in the Maine Legislature, saying he, like many politicians, has evolved on the
issues over time. Staffers point to his record in D.C., where he has earned a near-perfect approval rating from the Human Rights Campaign for his votes on issues of LGBT equality.

Eliot Cutler:
Early and vocal supporter of Maine's marriage equality

I have been committed to equal rights and to equal opportunity for all Maine citizens for my entire life. Ensuring equal rights and remedying existing inequities serve to
strengthen the very core of our state, and I am proud to have been an early and vocal supporter of Maine's historic marriage equality referendum.

Charlie Summers:
Marriage is between a man and a woman

Angus King:
Supports gay marriage

King would pass a general Democratic litmus test: He is prochoice on abortion, supports gay marriage, backs President Obama's health care law, and opposes GOP efforts to transform Medicare into a voucher program.
Indeed, he has endorsed Obama for reelection.

But he insists that he has conservative values when it comes to fiscal responsibility. "I think you should have a 'pay-as-you-go' system,'' he said.